Jacob benedict



J. BENEDICT.

FOLDING TABLE.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

III F! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB BENEDICT, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JULIAN M.- W I'IEELER, VILLIAM GREEN, ABRAM B. KNOIVLSOX, JAMES S. COIVIN, AND AARON Ii. SIBLEY, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,245, dated January 6, 1885.

Application filed October 23, i993.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JncoB BENEDICT, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the ac companying drawings.

This invention relates to lock-hinges for the legs of tables, benches, and the like; and it has for its object to provide a device which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

To this end it consists in certain improve- 1 5 ments in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a perspective bottom view, illustrating my invention as applied to the foldinglegs at one end of a bench or table. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, and Fig. 4c is a perspective view of one of the lock-hinges detached.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

A, in the drawings designates the leaf or top of a bench or table to which my invention is applied. To the under side of the said leaf or top, near the ends of the same, are secured cross-pieces B B, to which the lock-hinges are applied. These crosspieces, however, may be dispensed with when desired, their func- 3 5 lion being merely that of braces:

B B are the leck-hinge brackets, which are provided at their upper edges with flanges.

0, having perforations D, to receive the screws or bolts E, by which the said brackets are 40 fastened to the under sides of the braces B, as shown. The outer edges of the brackets 13 have stopflanges E. Their inner edges are rounded at the bottonn-as shown at F, and

their bottom edges have notches G, arranged below and in a vertical line with the vertical slots I-I, formed in the said brackets.

I I designate the legs, each pair of which (No model.)

are connected by rounds J and K. The legs are connected to the hinge-brackets by means of screws L, passing through the slots H in the sides of said brackets. The legs are also provided with laterally or outwardly projecting lugs M, adapted, when the legs are unfolded, to enter and rest in the notches G.

N designates a rail secured longitudinally under the table-top, and provided with a laterally-extending lug or stud, O, on which is coiled a spring, I, the extending ends of which rest, respectively, under and against the table top, as at Q, and against the round K, as at It. The function of this spring is to retain the legs securely in any position to which they may be adjusted, whether folded or extended.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the draw ings hereto annexed. The legs, when not in use, will fold under the topof the table or bench. When they are extended for use, the round K will bear against and expand the spring I, which, as soon as the lugs M pass the rounded corners F of the hinge-brackets, serves to lift the legs and force the said lugs MI into the notches G of the said brackets, such vertical motion being made possible by the vertical slots H, formed in the said brackets. The legs are thus retained securely in an extended position until it is desired to fold them, when, by simply raising the tabletop, and meanwhile pulling the legs in a downward 8o direction, the lugs M may be disengaged from the notches G and the legs be folded.

I claim as my invention and desire to se cure by Letters Patent of the United States- The combination, with the table top and legs, of the herein-described bracket, comprising a plate having fastening-flanges at its upper edge, stop E at the outer edge fitting around one side of the legs, a rounded inner corner, F, at the lower end, a vertical elon- 9o gated slot, H, in the side, a notch, G, at the bottom edge, a screw, L, passing through the slot II into the legs, and a pin, M, projecting from the legs and arranged to enter the notch G, a slat, N, arranged under the tabletop, a my own I havehereto affixed my signature in stud, 0, extending laterally outward from the presence of two witnesses. same, and a spring, R, coiled around the stud,

one arm of the spring bearing against the tar I 5 ble-top and the other arm against one of the \Vitnesses:

rungs of the leg, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as JACOB BENEDICT.

GYRUs E. PERKINS, ADoLPH 13. MAsoN. 

